Australia gets weapons upgrade

The Pentagon has notified Congress of a proposed sale to Australia of three MK 7 Aegis weapons systems, a state-of-the-art shipboard combat setup.

The proposed sale, valued at up to US$350 million ($500 million) if all options are exercised, would contribute to US security by giving Australia "significantly improved" air warfare capability, the notice said.

"It is vital to the US national interest to assist the Royal Australian Navy in modernising its surface combatant fleet so as to ... contribute to an acceptable military balance in the area," the Pentagon's Defence Security Co-operation Agency said.

Australia had requested the hardware with support equipment, computer programs, ship integration and other logistics and training support, the announcement said.

The Aegis system is designed to engage in simultaneous combat on several fronts, including air, surface and underwater.

The principal contractors would be Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and General Dynamics, the notice said.